BATTLE CREEK -- There were plenty of tears in the Northville locker room following the 25-22, 25-20, 25-20 loss to East Grand Rapids in the Class A volleyball semifinals at Kellogg Arena.

It was not how they envisioned it but it was the way it ended. However, the tears were those of regret.

"We all just defied gravity," Northville senior Symone Abbott said. "Nobody thought we could get out of districts probably. Our setter from last year left and nobody knew if we could do anything. We proved them wrong in districts."

Northville volleyball reacts to its 3-0 loss to East Grand Rapids in the Class A semifinals. (James Buck | MLive.com)

They proved everyone wrong all the way to Battle Creek, making to its second-straight appearance at the Kellogg arena.

Yet, the result was the same as a sweep dashed away the Mustangs' hopes. Yet this time, Northville put up a much harder fight.

Despite the sweep, Northville was never out of any set. Still EGR was able to hold small leads most of the way, keeping Northville at arms length for the duration of the match.

Northville was able to tie the score 22-22 in the first set but gave up three-straight points thanks to unforced errors to lose the first set.

It turned out to be all the momentum that EGR needed as it held off any run that Northville could muster.

"I think both teams played excellent," Northville coach Amanda Yaklin said. "I think their defense was very tough, probably the toughest defenders we'd seen all season. It just came down to a handful of unforced errors."

While the EGR defense honed in on Abbott, she still managed 13 kills. However, Northville's defense could not contain EGR senior Caroline Knooihuizen, who managed a match-high 20 kills in just three sets.

"She's the real deal," Yaklin said.

Seven different Northville players registered a kill on the night, with Abbott being the only one in double digits. Rachel Zawodny added 19 assists while Cassidy Minghine had 13 digs. Abbott also had 11 digs.

Still, Yaklin couldn't have been more proud of her seven seniors and the way they led Northville back to Battle Creek.

"All seven of my seniors were here last year, five of them with starting court time," Yaklin said. "That definitely helped. They weren't as wide-eyed walking in this year."

Although they weren't dry-eyed on the way out, Northville will refuse to feel sorry for itself.

"It definitely could have been anyone's game," Yaklin said. "Everyone walked out proud even though we didn't come out on top."